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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Albert Wustrow

Albert Wustrow was born in 1829 in Berlin, Germany.

Albert immigrated to America and settled in western Michigan sometime before war broke out.

He stood 5’8” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was a 32-year-old tinsmith probably living in Grand Rapids, Kent County when he enlisted in Company C on May 13, 1861, crediting Grand Rapids. (Company C was made up largely of German and Dutch immigrants, many of whom lived on the west side of the Grand River in Grand Rapids. This company was the descendant of the old Grand Rapids Rifles, also known as the “German Rifles,” a prewar local militia company composed solely of German troopers.)

He reenlisted as Corporal on December 24, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Grand Rapids’ Fifth Ward, but listing his residence as Muskegon, nd was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864 and probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February.

He was transferred as a Corporal to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864 and was reported absent sick in July. He was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

After his discharge from the army Albert eventually returned to western Michigan. He was possibly the same “Albert Wustrow” who, in September of 1869, was beaten and robbed in Grand Rapids.

At a late hour on Sunday night last [wrote the Democrat on September 21] Albert Wustrow, a good and peaceable citizen, was attacked and brutally beaten by a couple of ‘roughs’ when in front of Mr. Kappenberger’s restaurant, where he boarded on Canal Street. He was struck by one of the villains a severe blow with iron knuckles, which cut a deep gash about two inches in length, from one of his eyes down his cheek. He bled frightfully, and was thought by Drs. DeCamp and Bienneman to be in a very dangerous condition yesterday morning. His symptoms were better last evening. After committing the crime, the men fled as rapidly as possible but the alarm being given they were followed, and one of them arrested and lodged in jail that night, and the other man was arrested yesterday morning and placed in the ‘lock up’. Officer Henry DeVries assisted by Officer Frank Heriman, Jacob DeVries and Mr. Bradley of the Bronson House are entitled to much credit for having followed the chaps until they were secured. The names of the men who have been arrested are given as John Coats and John Donnelly. They were taken before Justice Sinclair yesterday on the charge of drunk and disorderly, and on examination being found guilty, they were committed to the County jail in default of the payment of $9.25 each, fine and costs. We understand that an information has also been filed against the respondents, Coats and Donnelly, for assault with intent to kill.

Albert was living in Grand Rapids in 1874 and was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association. He listed his residence as Grand Rapids and occupation as tinker when he entered the Central Branch National Military Home at Dayton, Ohio, on January 20, 1877. He was still living in the Home in 1880.

Albert died, probably at the Home in Dayton, on either November 12, 1881 or December 12, 1882, and was buried in the Home cemetery in Dayton: section C row 7, grave 13.